Athens & Athenian Riviera

Both a modern city and a living museum, Athens merges past and present like nowhere else on earth. Crowned by the Parthenon, the magnificent Acropolis stands sentinel over it all. Arguably the most important ancient site in the Western world, its monuments and sanctuaries gleam white in the midday sun, gradually taking on a honey hue as the sun sinks, before being gloriously illuminated at night.

Although visible from almost everywhere within the city, some of the best views are from Filopappou Hill – itself home to millennia-old monuments – and from the exceptional Acropolis Museum on the site’s southern slope. Other highlights of the city include the Theatre of Dionysos, the world’s first theatre; the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the largest temple in all Greece; and the ancient Agora, where Socrates once expounded his philosophy.

Just 17 kilometres south-east of the city lie the stylish resorts and beautiful beaches of the Athenian Riviera, a wonderful option for anyone looking to combine the culture of the Greek capital with a taste of beach life. It’s also a good jumping-off point for trips to the Saronic Gulf Islands, while a little further south you’ll find boats to Kea Island. The closest of the Cyclades to mainland Greece, Kea is an island of lush natural beauty, home to olive groves and oak trees, verdant valleys and a spectacular new One&Only hotel.